Jesus Is Lord of the Sabbath(A)

One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and his disciples began to pick some heads of grain, rub them in their hands and eat the kernels.(B) Some of the Pharisees asked, “Why are you doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?”(C)

Jesus answered them, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry?(D) He entered the house of God, and taking the consecrated bread, he ate what is lawful only for priests to eat.(E) And he also gave some to his companions.” Then Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man(F) is Lord of the Sabbath.”

On another Sabbath(G) he went into the synagogue and was teaching, and a man was there whose right hand was shriveled. The Pharisees and the teachers of the law were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely(H) to see if he would heal on the Sabbath.(I) But Jesus knew what they were thinking(J) and said to the man with the shriveled hand, “Get up and stand in front of everyone.” So he got up and stood there.

Then Jesus said to them, “I ask you, which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?”

10 He looked around at them all, and then said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He did so, and his hand was completely restored. 11 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law were furious(K) and began to discuss with one another what they might do to Jesus.

The Twelve Apostles(L)

12 One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God.(M) 13 When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles:(N) 14 Simon (whom he named Peter), his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, 15 Matthew,(O) Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called the Zealot, 16 Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.

Blessings and Woes(P)

17 He went down with them and stood on a level place. A large crowd of his disciples was there and a great number of people from all over Judea, from Jerusalem, and from the coastal region around Tyre and Sidon,(Q) 18 who had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. Those troubled by impure spirits were cured, 19 and the people all tried to touch him,(R) because power was coming from him and healing them all.(S)

20 Looking at his disciples, he said:

“Blessed are you who are poor,
    for yours is the kingdom of God.(T)
21 Blessed are you who hunger now,
    for you will be satisfied.(U)
Blessed are you who weep now,
    for you will laugh.(V)
22 Blessed are you when people hate you,
    when they exclude you(W) and insult you(X)
    and reject your name as evil,
        because of the Son of Man.(Y)

23 “Rejoice in that day and leap for joy,(Z) because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their ancestors treated the prophets.(AA)

24 “But woe to you who are rich,(AB)
    for you have already received your comfort.(AC)
25 Woe to you who are well fed now,
    for you will go hungry.(AD)
Woe to you who laugh now,
    for you will mourn and weep.(AE)
26 Woe to you when everyone speaks well of you,
    for that is how their ancestors treated the false prophets.(AF)

Love for Enemies(AG)

27 “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,(AH) 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.(AI) 29 If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. 30 Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back.(AJ) 31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.(AK)

32 “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you?(AL) Even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you?(AM) Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. 35 But love your enemies, do good to them,(AN) and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children(AO) of the Most High,(AP) because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. 36 Be merciful,(AQ) just as your Father(AR) is merciful.

Judging Others(AS)

37 “Do not judge, and you will not be judged.(AT) Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.(AU) 38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap.(AV) For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”(AW)

39 He also told them this parable: “Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into a pit?(AX) 40 The student is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher.(AY)

41 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 42 How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

A Tree and Its Fruit(AZ)

43 “No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. 44 Each tree is recognized by its own fruit.(BA) People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. 45 A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.(BB)

The Wise and Foolish Builders(BC)

46 “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’(BD) and do not do what I say?(BE) 47 As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice,(BF) I will show you what they are like. 48 They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. 49 But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.”

Jesus Is Lord of the Sabbath

(A)On a Sabbath,[a] while he was going through the grainfields, his disciples (B)plucked and ate some heads of grain, rubbing them in their hands. But some of the Pharisees said, (C)“Why are you doing (D)what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath?” And Jesus answered them, (E)“Have you not read (F)what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him: how he entered the house of God and took and ate (G)the bread of the Presence, (H)which is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and also gave it to those with him?” And he said to them, (I)“The Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.”

A Man with a Withered Hand

On another Sabbath, (J)he entered the synagogue (K)and was teaching, and a man was there whose right hand was withered. And the scribes and the Pharisees (L)watched him, to see whether he would heal on the Sabbath, (M)so that they might find a reason to accuse him. But (N)he knew their thoughts, and he said to the man with the withered hand, “Come and stand here.” And he rose and stood there. And Jesus said to them, “I ask you, (O)is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to destroy it?” 10 And (P)after looking around at them all he said to him, “Stretch out your hand.” And (Q)he did so, and his hand was restored. 11 But they were filled with (R)fury and discussed with one another what they might do to Jesus.

The Twelve Apostles

12 In these days (S)he went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God. 13 And when day came, (T)he called his disciples (U)and (V)chose from them twelve, whom he named (W)apostles: 14 Simon, (X)whom he named Peter, and (Y)Andrew his brother, and (Z)James and John, and Philip, and Bartholomew, 15 and (AA)Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon who was called (AB)the Zealot, 16 and (AC)Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.

Jesus Ministers to a Great Multitude

17 And (AD)he came down with them and stood on a level place, with (AE)a great crowd of his disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem and the seacoast of (AF)Tyre and Sidon, 18 who came to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. (AG)And those who were troubled with unclean spirits were cured. 19 And all the crowd (AH)sought to touch him, for (AI)power came out from him and healed them all.

The Beatitudes

20 And (AJ)he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, (AK)and said:

“Blessed are you who are poor, for (AL)yours is the kingdom of God.

21 (AM)“Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you shall be satisfied.

(AN)“Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh.

22 “Blessed are you when (AO)people hate you and when they (AP)exclude you and revile you and (AQ)spurn your name as evil, (AR)on account of the Son of Man! 23 (AS)Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for (AT)so their fathers did to the prophets.

Jesus Pronounces Woes

24 (AU)“But woe to you who are rich, (AV)for you (AW)have received your consolation.

25 “Woe to you who are full now, for (AX)you shall be hungry.

“Woe to (AY)you who laugh now, (AZ)for you shall mourn and weep.

26 “Woe to you, (BA)when all people speak well of you, for (BB)so their fathers did to (BC)the false prophets.

Love Your Enemies

27 “But I say to you who hear, (BD)Love your enemies, (BE)do good to those who hate you, 28 (BF)bless those who curse you, (BG)pray for those who abuse you. 29 (BH)To one who (BI)strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic[b] either. 30 (BJ)Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. 31 And (BK)as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.

32 (BL)“If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 And (BM)if you (BN)lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. 35 But (BO)love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and (BP)you will be sons of (BQ)the Most High, for (BR)he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. 36 (BS)Be merciful, even as (BT)your Father is merciful.

Judging Others

37 (BU)(BV)“Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; (BW)forgive, and you will be forgiven; 38 (BX)give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put (BY)into your lap. For (BZ)with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”

39 He also told them a parable: (CA)“Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit? 40 (CB)A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is (CC)fully trained will be like his teacher. 41 (CD)Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but (CE)do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 42 How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother's eye.

A Tree and Its Fruit

43 “For (CF)no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, 44 for (CG)each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thornbushes, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush. 45 (CH)The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces (CI)evil, (CJ)for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

Build Your House on the Rock

46 (CK)“Why (CL)do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you? 47 (CM)Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: 48 he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built.[c] 49 (CN)But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and (CO)the ruin of that house was great.”

Footnotes

  1. Luke 6:1 Some manuscripts On the second first Sabbath (that is, on the second Sabbath after the first)
  2. Luke 6:29 Greek chiton, a long garment worn under the cloak next to the skin
  3. Luke 6:48 Some manuscripts founded upon the rock

Lord of the Sabbath

On a Sabbath,[a] He passed through the grainfields.(A) His disciples were picking heads of grain, rubbing them in their hands, and eating them. But some of the Pharisees said, “Why are you doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath?”

Jesus answered them, “Haven’t you read what David and those who were with him did when he was hungry— how he entered the house of God, and took and ate the sacred bread, which is not lawful for any but the priests to eat?(B) He even gave some to those who were with him.”(C) Then He told them, “The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”

The Man with the Paralyzed Hand

On another Sabbath(D) He entered the synagogue and was teaching. A man was there whose right hand was paralyzed. The scribes and Pharisees were watching Him closely,(E) to see if He would heal on the Sabbath, so that they could find a charge against Him.(F) But He knew their thoughts(G) and told the man with the paralyzed hand, “Get up and stand here.”[b] So he got up and stood there. Then Jesus said to them, “I ask you: Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do what is good or to do what is evil, to save life or to destroy it?”(H) 10 After looking around at them all,(I) He told him, “Stretch out your hand.”(J) He did so, and his hand was restored.[c] 11 They, however, were filled with rage and started discussing with one another what they might do to Jesus.

The 12 Apostles

12 During those days He went out to the mountain to pray(K) and spent all night in prayer to God. 13 When daylight came, He summoned His disciples,(L) and He chose 12 of them—He also named them apostles:(M)

14 Simon, whom He also named Peter,
and Andrew his brother;
James and John;
Philip and Bartholomew;
15 Matthew and Thomas;(N)
James the son of Alphaeus,
and Simon called the Zealot;
16 Judas the son of James,
and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.

Teaching and Healing

17 After coming down with them, He stood on a level place with a large crowd of His disciples and a great number of people from all Judea and Jerusalem and from the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon.(O) 18 They came to hear Him and to be healed of their diseases; and those tormented by unclean spirits were made well. 19 The whole crowd was trying to touch Him,(P) because power was coming out from Him and healing them all.(Q)

The Beatitudes

20 Then looking up at[d] His disciples, He said:(R)

You who are poor are blessed,
because the kingdom of God is yours.
21 You who are now hungry are blessed,
because you will be filled.
You who now weep are blessed,
because you will laugh.
22 You are blessed when people hate you,
when they exclude you,(S) insult you,
and slander your name as evil(T)
because of the Son of Man.(U)

23 “Rejoice in that day and leap for joy! Take note—your reward is great in heaven, for this is the way their ancestors used to treat the prophets.(V)

Woe to the Self-Satisfied

24 But woe to you who are rich,
for you have received your comfort.
25 Woe to you who are now full,
for you will be hungry.
Woe to you[e] who are now laughing,
for you will mourn and weep.
26 Woe to you[f]
when all people speak well of you,
for this is the way their ancestors
used to treat the false prophets.(W)

Love Your Enemies

27 “But I say to you who listen: Love your enemies, do what is good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.(X) 29 If anyone hits you on the cheek,(Y) offer the other also. And if anyone takes away your coat, don’t hold back your shirt either. 30 Give to everyone who asks you, and from one who takes your things, don’t ask for them back. 31 Just as you want others to do for you, do the same for them.(Z) 32 If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them.(AA) 33 If you do what is good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you?(AB) Even sinners lend to sinners to be repaid in full. 35 But love your enemies, do what is good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High.(AC) For He is gracious to the ungrateful and evil. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.(AD)

Do Not Judge

37 “Do not judge, and you will not be judged.(AE) Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.(AF) 38 Give, and it will be given to you; a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over—will be poured into your lap.(AG) For with the measure you use,[g] it will be measured back to you.”(AH)

39 He also told them a parable: “Can the blind guide the blind? Won’t they both fall into a pit?(AI) 40 A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher.(AJ)

41 “Why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but don’t notice the log in your own eye? 42 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself don’t see the log in your eye? Hypocrite! First take the log out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck in your brother’s eye.

A Tree and Its Fruit

43 “A good tree doesn’t produce bad fruit; on the other hand, a bad tree doesn’t produce good fruit.(AK) 44 For each tree is known by its own fruit. Figs aren’t gathered from thornbushes, or grapes picked from a bramble bush. 45 A good man produces good out of the good storeroom of his heart. An evil man produces evil out of the evil storeroom, for his mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart.

The Two Foundations

46 “Why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and don’t do the things I say?(AL) 47 I will show you what someone is like who comes to Me, hears My words, and acts on them:(AM) 48 He is like a man building a house, who dug deep[h] and laid the foundation on the rock. When the flood came, the river crashed against that house and couldn’t shake it, because it was well built. 49 But the one who hears and does not act is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The river crashed against it, and immediately it collapsed. And the destruction of that house was great!”(AN)

Footnotes

  1. Luke 6:1 Other mss read a second-first Sabbath; perhaps a special Sabbath
  2. Luke 6:8 Lit stand in the middle
  3. Luke 6:10 Other mss add as sound as the other
  4. Luke 6:20 Lit Then lifting up His eyes to
  5. Luke 6:25 Other mss omit to you
  6. Luke 6:26 Other mss omit to you
  7. Luke 6:38 Lit you measure
  8. Luke 6:48 Lit dug and went deep

A Discussion about the Sabbath

One Sabbath day as Jesus was walking through some grainfields, his disciples broke off heads of grain, rubbed off the husks in their hands, and ate the grain. But some Pharisees said, “Why are you breaking the law by harvesting grain on the Sabbath?”

Jesus replied, “Haven’t you read in the Scriptures what David did when he and his companions were hungry? He went into the house of God and broke the law by eating the sacred loaves of bread that only the priests can eat. He also gave some to his companions.” And Jesus added, “The Son of Man[a] is Lord, even over the Sabbath.”

Jesus Heals on the Sabbath

On another Sabbath day, a man with a deformed right hand was in the synagogue while Jesus was teaching. The teachers of religious law and the Pharisees watched Jesus closely. If he healed the man’s hand, they planned to accuse him of working on the Sabbath.

But Jesus knew their thoughts. He said to the man with the deformed hand, “Come and stand in front of everyone.” So the man came forward. Then Jesus said to his critics, “I have a question for you. Does the law permit good deeds on the Sabbath, or is it a day for doing evil? Is this a day to save life or to destroy it?”

10 He looked around at them one by one and then said to the man, “Hold out your hand.” So the man held out his hand, and it was restored! 11 At this, the enemies of Jesus were wild with rage and began to discuss what to do with him.

Jesus Chooses the Twelve Apostles

12 One day soon afterward Jesus went up on a mountain to pray, and he prayed to God all night. 13 At daybreak he called together all of his disciples and chose twelve of them to be apostles. Here are their names:

14 Simon (whom he named Peter),
Andrew (Peter’s brother),
James,
John,
Philip,
Bartholomew,
15 Matthew,
Thomas,
James (son of Alphaeus),
Simon (who was called the zealot),
16 Judas (son of James),
Judas Iscariot (who later betrayed him).

Crowds Follow Jesus

17 When they came down from the mountain, the disciples stood with Jesus on a large, level area, surrounded by many of his followers and by the crowds. There were people from all over Judea and from Jerusalem and from as far north as the seacoasts of Tyre and Sidon. 18 They had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases; and those troubled by evil[b] spirits were healed. 19 Everyone tried to touch him, because healing power went out from him, and he healed everyone.

The Beatitudes

20 Then Jesus turned to his disciples and said,

“God blesses you who are poor,
    for the Kingdom of God is yours.
21 God blesses you who are hungry now,
    for you will be satisfied.
God blesses you who weep now,
    for in due time you will laugh.

22 What blessings await you when people hate you and exclude you and mock you and curse you as evil because you follow the Son of Man. 23 When that happens, be happy! Yes, leap for joy! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, their ancestors treated the ancient prophets that same way.

Sorrows Foretold

24 “What sorrow awaits you who are rich,
    for you have your only happiness now.
25 What sorrow awaits you who are fat and prosperous now,
    for a time of awful hunger awaits you.
What sorrow awaits you who laugh now,
    for your laughing will turn to mourning and sorrow.
26 What sorrow awaits you who are praised by the crowds,
    for their ancestors also praised false prophets.

Love for Enemies

27 “But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. 28 Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you. 29 If someone slaps you on one cheek, offer the other cheek also. If someone demands your coat, offer your shirt also. 30 Give to anyone who asks; and when things are taken away from you, don’t try to get them back. 31 Do to others as you would like them to do to you.

32 “If you love only those who love you, why should you get credit for that? Even sinners love those who love them! 33 And if you do good only to those who do good to you, why should you get credit? Even sinners do that much! 34 And if you lend money only to those who can repay you, why should you get credit? Even sinners will lend to other sinners for a full return.

35 “Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked. 36 You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate.

Do Not Judge Others

37 “Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn others, or it will all come back against you. Forgive others, and you will be forgiven. 38 Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.[c]

39 Then Jesus gave the following illustration: “Can one blind person lead another? Won’t they both fall into a ditch? 40 Students[d] are not greater than their teacher. But the student who is fully trained will become like the teacher.

41 “And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye[e] when you have a log in your own? 42 How can you think of saying, ‘Friend,[f] let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye.

The Tree and Its Fruit

43 “A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. 44 A tree is identified by its fruit. Figs are never gathered from thornbushes, and grapes are not picked from bramble bushes. 45 A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart.

Building on a Solid Foundation

46 “So why do you keep calling me ‘Lord, Lord!’ when you don’t do what I say? 47 I will show you what it’s like when someone comes to me, listens to my teaching, and then follows it. 48 It is like a person building a house who digs deep and lays the foundation on solid rock. When the floodwaters rise and break against that house, it stands firm because it is well built. 49 But anyone who hears and doesn’t obey is like a person who builds a house right on the ground, without a foundation. When the floods sweep down against that house, it will collapse into a heap of ruins.”

Footnotes

  1. 6:5 “Son of Man” is a title Jesus used for himself.
  2. 6:18 Greek unclean.
  3. 6:38 Or The measure you give will be the measure you get back.
  4. 6:40 Or Disciples.
  5. 6:41 Greek your brother’s eye; also in 6:42.
  6. 6:42 Greek Brother.